The Sceptics of the Old Testament: Job - Koheleth - Agur Part 23

CCII

But the guiltless dies with embittered soul, And hath never enjoyed a pleasure; Then they alike lie down in the dust, And the worms shall cover them both.

CCIII

Behold I know your thoughts, And the plots which ye wrongfully weave against me.

And how will ye comfort me in vain, Since of your answers nought but falsehood remains?

CCIV

ELIPHAZ:

Can a man be profitable unto G.o.d?

Only unto himself is the wise man serviceable.

Is it a boon to the Almighty that thou art righteous?

Or is it gain to him that thou makest thy way perfect?

CCV

Will he reprove thee for thy fear of him?

Will he enter with thee into judgment for that?

Is not rather thy wickedness great?

Are not thine iniquities numberless?

CCVI

For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, And stripped the naked of their clothing; Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, And hast withholden bread from the hungry.

CCVII

But as for the mighty man, he held the land, And the honoured man dwelt in it.

Thou hast sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

CCVIII

Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear troubleth thee; Thy light hath become darkness, thou canst not see, And a flood of waters covereth thee.

CCIX

Doth not G.o.d look down from the height of heaven, And crush the mighty for that they are grown haughty, Which say unto G.o.d: "Depart from us,"

And "What can the Almighty do against us?"

CCX

And he forsooth "shall fill their houses with goods,"

And "be heedless of the counsel of the wicked": No; the righteous shall look on and be glad, And the innocent shall laugh them to scorn.

CCXI

Befriend now thyself with him, and thou shalt be safe, Thereby shall good come unto thee.

Receive, I pray thee, instruction from his mouth, And treasure up his words in thine heart.

CCXII

If thou turnest to G.o.d and humblest thyself, If thou remove iniquity from thy tent, Then shalt thou have delight in the Almighty, And shalt lift up thy face unto G.o.d.

CCXIII

Thou shalt pray unto him and he shall hear thee, And thou shalt pay thy vows; If thou purpose a thing, it shall prosper unto thee, And a light shall shine upon thy ways.

CCXIV

JOB:

Oh, I know it already: I myself am to blame for my misery,[238]

And his hand is heavy upon me by reason of my groaning!

Oh that I knew where I might find him, That I might come even unto his seat!

CCXV

I would plead my cause before him, And fill my mouth with arguments; I would fain know the words which he could answer me, And learn what he would say unto me.

CCXVI

Will he plead against me with his almighty power?

If not, then not even he would prevail against me.

For a righteous one would dispute with him; So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

CCXVII

Behold I go forward, but he is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive him.

For he knoweth the way that I have chosen: If he would try me, I should come forth as gold.

CCXVIII

My foot has held his steps, His way have I kept and swerved not; I have not gone back from the precept of his lips, I have hid the words of his mouth in my bosom.

CCXIX

But he is bent upon one thing and who can turn him away?

And what his soul desireth even that he doeth.

Therefore am I troubled before his face; When I consider, I am afraid of him.

CCXX

G.o.d hath crushed my heart, And the Almighty hath terrified me.

For I am annihilated because of the darkness, And gloom enwrappeth my face.

CCXXI